After a disappointing year that ended before it even began, Cory Jane lost his place at the top of New Zealand's outside backs pecking order, and is determined to send those All Black incumbents a clear message: "I'm coming for them."

Going down before the Super Rugby season even began with a serious knee injury that destabilised his entire year, Jane is determined to make this year count. After an unsettling comeback during the All Blacks tour of Europe, Jane was usurped by Charles Piutau as first-choice right wing and Julian Savea had locked down the left side, leaving Jane on the outer.

"I wasn't quite where I wanted to be but I still played and was injury free. So I guess that was the plus side," Jane told Stuff.co.nz. "I've had a pre-season now, done a lot of leg weights which you need when you have a knee injury. It's like before I was injured, so I'm feeling excited again.

"I've got to prove I can still play at an elite level - not just go out and be a rugby player. I still want to make things happen."

Proving his worth isn't a new concept for the winger, after a sub-par 2011 campaign missing out on selection in the pre-World Cup Tri-Nations side, only finding a place through injury cover.

"I knew I had to get my act together and work hard because the pressure wasn't on me, the pressure is on the guys who are starting in the All Blacks jersey. They have to work hard every week because I'm coming for them. That's the mentality I've got now. I'm not done."

The Hurricanes are similar to Jane- they've got plenty to prove in order to shake the tag as underachievers.

"We've got so much talent, but we've just been too shaky over the last couple of years. We've worked a lot in the preseason on everyone knowing their roles and everyone being held accountable now. You walk in the kitchen and someone just put a plate down without washing it. Bang! Hit him with it - 'clean your plate'. Those little things are important because if you skim over them it's going to be like that for the whole year."